Growth, Market Share and Dynamic Change in The PV Inverter Industry

The PV inverter market, once short of innovation, has seen a surge of investment in the last few years. Spurred by startup advances, established firms like SMA, Satcon, and National Semiconductor are developing new distributed PV electronics technologies in-house or through acquisition. This Special Report from Greentech Media, sponsored by Enphase Energy, takes a look at the state of innovation in the inverter market, VC investment activity, and the emerging leaders in the $2.4 billion PV inverter market.

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As the price of PV falls, the technology will become more competitively priced in Europe and the U.S. before its prices are competitive in China.

CPV: New Applications and Emerging Markets
November 16, 2009

Hot Startup »

Solar Startup Solasta Seeks Next Round

The solar firm was founded in 2006 with A round funding from Kleiner Perkins and claims its process could increase the efficiency of conventional amorphous silicon PV by up to 150 percent.

Projects

JA Solar Posts Losses, Blames Lehman

The Chinese solar cell maker recorded losses from its investment and fund-raising deals with Lehman. JA Solar also cut forecasts in light of the weakened euro and slumping economy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 12, 2008
CaliSolar Snags $101.9M for UMG-Silicon Cells

In July, the solar cell developer told Greentech Media that it was looking for money to build a commercial plant in California next year. An SEC filing shows the company has completed a Series B round.

Solar
Ucilia Wang November 3, 2008
SolFocus to Install World's Largest CPV Project

The Mountain View, Calif.-based company signs a $103 million deal to install more than 10 megawatts of concentrating solar in Spain.

Solar
Jennifer Kho November 3, 2008
SolFocus Turns On First U.S. Commercial Installation

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi flips the switch on a 7.2-kilowatt system for a radio station in California, which expects to be the first concentrating-photovoltaic customer to be eligible for state solar rebates.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 30, 2008
First Solar Profits Up 54%, Credit Crunch Could Impact Biz

UPDATED 6:50 PM: Before announcing its third-quarter earnings, the thin-film panel maker said it was investing $25 million in SolarCity. The CEOs of both companies appeared together to discuss residential solar only two weeks ago.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 29, 2008
Solaria Has a Solar Park Deal for You

The Spanish solar panel maker is looking for buyers of its solar power plants after its original buyers backed out. Also, Spain is cracking down on fraudulent solar development claims.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 27, 2008
Google Plays U.S.-China Matchmaker

Google.org is giving $250,000 to the U.S. National Academies to fund a study on how the United States and China can collaborate on solar and wind energy generation, energy storage and grid tech.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 21, 2008
Solar Roundup: As Shares Climb, Will Expansion Plans Pan Out?

As solar shares outpace the Dow and the Nasdaq, Oregon considers the first U.S. state feed-in tariff modeled on the German system, Energosolar ships an amorphous-silicon manufacturing line and Wacker reveals plans for an additional 10,000 tons of silicon capacity.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 20, 2008
Solyndra Still Raising Cash

The company, which has raised $600 million in equity funding since 2005, plans to expand manufacturing capacity as quickly as possible and is continuing to talk to investors, CEO Chris Gronet says.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 19, 2008
Solyndra Increases Beta Testing

The company says it has 15 projects being tested globally. Meanwhile, some question whether today's testing requirements – which some have called "abundant" and others have called "onerous" – really ensure reliability.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 17, 2008
Q&A: Will U.S. Become a Solar World?

As German solar manufacturer SolarWorld opens a solar-cell factory in Oregon, COO Boris Klebensberger talks about the economy, competition and the right solar policy for the United States.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 17, 2008
Solar Roundup: Solar Power Draws Crowds

Solar Power International drew a record attendance while GT Solar scored a $46.8 million contract. SunPower's earnings beat Wall Street expectations.

Solar
Rachel Barron October 16, 2008
National Grid: Dream or Reality?

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell told a solar conference crowd that she will tackle the complex issue of regulating utilities and building new transmission lines at a time when money is tough to come by.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 16, 2008
BIPV Offers Reasons to be Cheerful

Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff reports on Building Integrated Photovoltaics from the floor of Solar Power International where the mood is cautiously optimistic.

Solar
Eric Wesoff October 16, 2008
Tax Credits Cause Residential-Solar Slowdown?

UPDATED 4:40 PM: New residential-solar incentives, which take effect Jan. 1, are slowing down installations in some places as customers put projects on hold to wait for bigger incentives.

Solar
Jennifer Kho October 16, 2008
Tax Credits Meet Financial Meltdown

First Solar CEO Michael Ahearn and other solar industry executives at Solar Power International say tax credits alone won't be enough to win over customers, particularly in a slumping economy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 15, 2008
Solar Mergers: Guarding Against a Slumping Economy

Execs from solar installers Solar Works and SolarWrights discuss their merger, the latest in what could become a trend as companies bolster themselves for the possibility of a more competitive market.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 15, 2008
Soliant Lands $21M

General Electric Energy Financial Services leads the round with a $2.5 million investment in the concentrated photovoltaic solar startup

Solar
Jeff St. John October 14, 2008
Sharp Guns for U.S. Thin-Film Market

The Japanese solar firm has built a thin-film production line and is constructing another 480-megawatt factory for 2010. It also is testing concentrating-solar-power systems in Spain and Italy.

Solar
Ucilia Wang October 14, 2008
1366 CEO Lays Out Strategy, Funding Plans

The silicon solar module maker from MIT says it will seek $50 million for a 25-to 30-megawatt plant after the U.S. presidential election.

Solar
Michael Kanellos October 13, 2008